Construction of Runway Extension to Begin in September

Friday

Mar 15, 2013 at 9:36 AMMar 15, 2013 at 9:38 AM

Aircraft Mechanic May Relocate to NCMRA

Chris Houston@LinnCoChris

The two primary engineers working on the North Central Mo. Regional Airport (NCMRA) runway extension project were on hand at Tuesday evening’s Airport Board meeting to give the Board a progress report. Leading off, Crawford, Murphy and Tilly (CMT) Senior Planner Ambra Knox reviewed issues related to the land around the airport that Don Walsworth purchased with the intention of deeding it over to NCMRA. Knox shared that the required environmental assessment is completed, and that the planned runway extension will have no significant impact on the local environment (i.e., runoff). The CMT Senior Planner further advised the Board that the survey plats (i.e., maps designating the locations of additions as well as preexisting features) were finished and incorporated into the National Geodetic Survey. She then added that the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) had been completed and had the City Managers from both Brookfield and Marceline sign off on the cover sheet of that critical document. The ALP and Master Plan of which it is part now go to the Aviation Division of MODoT for signatures. With regard to the appraisal of the land purchased by Walsworth, and the NCMRA Board’s intention to use the value of that ground to cover the five percent local match required for the award of federal AIP (Airport Improvement Program) funds, Knox reported that the appraisal was ongoing. Now that the snow has melted, the appraiser will be able to come to the site to complete his valuation. Once the appraisal is completed ownership of the piece of ground in question can be transferred to NCMRA. The presentation by Knox was followed by CMT Senior Engineer Brian Garkie’s update on the design agreement for the runway extension. Design changes required by the 1,000-foot runway extension include the construction of the “Yellow Brick Road” that will provide north-south access between U.S. Highway 36 and Jarboe Road, and the resulting addition of a chain-link fence in addition to the one that borders the west side of the tarmac. With the exception of the area nearest to the AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) tower, the Yellow Brick Road will be gravel. The existing parallel taxiway will also need to be extended an additional 1,000 feet to accommodate and compliment the additional 1,000 feet of runway. Garkie anticipates that construction on the runway extension should commence by September 1, and hopefully conclude sometime in November. During construction, the existing runway can either partially close—what Garkie referred to as a ‘displaced threshold’—or be completely shut down. At this time, the NCMRA Board seems to prefer a displaced threshold. Before construction on the runway extension and extension of the parallel taxiway can commence, The NCMRA Board must obtain an independent cost analysis (ICA). Garkie explains: “An ICA is a way for the airport sponsor to review a consultant’s proposed fee in accordance with FAA requirements. The sponsor will either use a qualified in-house engineer or hire a third party engineer who is experienced in the type of work proposed to prepare a fee based on the scope of the work. The third party fee is then compared to the consultant’s proposed fee to determine if the consultant’s fee is fair and reasonable. The results are sent to MoDOT along with the draft consultant agreement.” The NCMRA Board has voted to have Airport Manager Ted Stockwell arrange for the ICA and allowed as much as $4,000 for the fee to be paid to the firm that does the ICA.During construction of the runway extension, the runway end identifier lights (REIL) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights will be relocated, and the tarmac striping, which is getting worn, will be replaced.

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